Most of our family we don’t choose, but friends we do get to choose, and we are so happy to say that some friends become like “family” over time.

Like I said in the last post, we had a visit from our wonderful friends/family the Wakatsukis’, from Japan, this last week.

They were our neighbors at the first house we lived in here in Georgia. We moved here when JJ (now 15) was only three months old, and met them when he was around one.

All five boys are just great buddies and have been for a lifetime!

The original four, left to right (ages are approximate):

Kaoru -4, Gerrit -3, Darren -12, JJ -2

Kaoru was three years old when we met, and is exactly a year and a two days older than Gerrit (now 16). These boys have grown up as “brothers” and even though Kaoru and his parents have long since moved back to Japan, they still come back to spend some time with these “American brothers”! There were a couple of years when Nagisa and Yuji couldn’t make it out, but sent Kaoru alone. They were all so brave to do that!

Me putting him on a plane back to Japan

I do believe this is all of us back in ’02 saying goodbye to them as they moved back to Japan.

Many great memories of us all together over the years!

Harrison was still a baby when they moved back, so they have had to watch him grow up through photos and once a year visits.

My oldest, Darren, has been fortunate enough to have made it out to Japan, twice now, since his high school graduation. The first time was a graduation present from Nagisa and Yuji. So, we truly have a special and wonderful relationship with the Wakatsuki family!

We have watched/listened to Kaoru on the violin from age five to 17, and look forward to many more years of it. The visit this year was short, so no violin was packed. 😦

We are very proud of our other boy!

We are honored that they spend the time and expense to come visit us every year.

Here are some photos from this years visit:

Our routine visit to Cracker Barrel for Nagisa to get her fried okra. 🙂

A very brief and VERY cold visit to Line Creek.

Nagisa and Yuji getting to know Peeps.

The boys… my how they’ve grown up!

Nagisa went with me to take my sweet, old girl Jetta (black one) to the vet, and found out that she is wracked with advanced arthritis in her legs. She’s on daily meds. now, and we hope she will be feeling better real soon.

Yuji, Nagisa and I had a fun time in Senoia, Ga one day. If any of you watch the Walking Dead… this is where a lot of the filming happens. Actually, Senoia has been the location of about twenty films and shows. Great little shops and the best coffee!

Eating fried green tomatoes and fried pickles at the Redneck Cafe’.

We said goodbye this morning, and they are on their way back home to Japan. But we look forward to the next visit, and more fun times together.

One response to “Down Memory Lane With Our Japanese Family”

Thank you for putting it all together so nicely.
We are very very lucky to get to know the Newies.
We love y’all!! thank you so much for making our short visit so memorable!
I watched “Driving Miss Daisy” on the plane on the way back.. couldn’t really tell which part of Sey-Noy was in it, but enjoyed the southern atmosphere.

I am a mother to four boys, and a teacher to the three youngest. I enjoy really KNOWING my kids and finding each of their unique talents. I went into homeschooling kicking and screaming many years ago, and you couldn't pay me to give it up now. Teaching these boys about their Savior, and making them into great Christian Warriors is my most important duty.

I am also an artist and love to create things big and small. In the way that most women can't get enough shoes, jewelry and clothes... I can never have too many art supplies! :)

Jesus is the center of our home, and there is no way I could do what I do with out the assurance that He is with me everyday. Ever since we brought Him into our home, there has been an undeniable peace here. Not that nothing goes wrong, or that we don't get sad, mad or angry. We do. But there is an underlying peace from Him that gives us the courage to keep going when the world seems to be crumbling around us.

This blog is just some of what our journey along life's path entails - as time allows, of course.

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Chiari Malformation

I would also like to bring attention to Chiari Malformation II. A rare birth defect that causes the brainstem and cerebellum to develop down in the spinal column instead of up in the skull - where they belong. Therefore compacting the spine, brain stem, cerebellum and possibly blocking the spinal fluid.

Read the story about our son with Chiari Malformation titled Gare-Bear's Chiari Journey in the tabs above, or in the pages below.